Committee Approves 15 Non-Governmental Organizations for Association with United Nations Department of Public Information

Committee Approves 15 Non-Governmental Organizations for Association with United Nations Department of Public Information

The Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Association Committee today associated 15 non-governmental organizations with the United Nations Department, bringing to 1,465 the number of working with the Department in the area of communications and outreach.

Non-governmental organizations are important partners in disseminating information about the Organization’s work to the world. In a message to the Civil Society Forum — held in conjunction with the Commission for Social Development on 31 January — the Secretary-General indicated that “a strong civil society sector is central to advancing social progress”, stressing that the United Nations remains committed to seeking civil society’s “advice, expertise, support and partnership”.

In associating with the Department to inform the world about the Organization’s work, non-governmental organizations are also playing an important role in reminding Governments of their pledges. In his vision statement before election, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “relevant UN organizations should develop strategic cooperation with their civil society partners”.

Ramu Damodaran, Officer in Charge of the Department’s Outreach Division, welcomed the new group of non-governmental organizations, hailing from India, Italy, Lebanon, Philippines, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom and the United States, noting “[non-governmental organizations] bring tremendous value-added to the advocacy efforts of the [United Nations] by using appropriate social and social media channels and languages to reach out to different communities”.

The following non-governmental organizations — working on issues including education, environmental protection, cultural awareness and youth empowerment — were associated with the Department of Public Information:

Ataturk Society of America, United States

ChildFund Korea, Republic of Korea

GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, United States

Human in Love, Republic of Korea

Institute for Multicultural Communications Cooperation and Development Profile, United States

Italian Diplomatic Academy, Italy

OneMama, United States

Oum El Nour, Lebanon

Sariaya Learning Centre for Development, Philippines

Sesame Workshop, United States

Sure We Can, United States

United Association of Calligraphy, United States

Varkey Foundation, United Kingdom

Wildlife Conservation Society, United States

Youth Social Service Organization, India

About DPI/NGO Association

The Department of Public Information works with diverse non-governmental organizations, ranging from small groups to subsidiaries of large networks and academic institutions around the world. Organizations are required to meet certain minimum requirements before they are associated with the Department.

In addition to their main activities, associated non-governmental organizations are expected to use their communications assets to disseminate information received from the Department about the work of the United Nations and issues on its agenda to their members and audiences. In 2017, Department of Public Information-associated non-governmental organizations are expected to join the global effort to support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, promote and defend human rights, and promote peace and security. They also have the opportunity to network with other non-governmental organizations and to share information about their activities during non-governmental organization briefings, capacity-building sessions and the Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Conference.

Non-governmental organizations accepted for association with the Department receive six grounds passes — two of which are designated for youth representatives aged 18 to 32 years — to facilitate access to United Nations officials, meetings, events and informational sessions at New York Headquarters. Youth engagement has been an important dimension of Department of Public Information-non-governmental organization relations outreach activities in recent years. In addition to leading briefings on issues related to the Organization’s work, young people have taken on planning and speaking roles at the Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organizations Conference. A record 1,300 youth participated in the 2016 Conference — held in the Republic of Korea — accounting for almost one third of participants.

Non-governmental organizations that successfully meet the criteria for association with the Department are also eligible to propose and lead departmental non-governmental organization briefings. A dedicated Non-Governmental Organization Resource Centre with materials and information on the Organization’s work is located in the UNITAR Building at 801 UN Plaza, 2nd Floor, in New York.

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